With wood cabinetry, the key is to sand them thoroughly, and then primer is more or less optional (though, it always is a good idea!). When you’re working with laminate pieces, however, primer is absolutely imperative to making sure the paint adheres.

Before beginning, you’ll want to very thoroughly clean your cabinets and lightly sand them to scuff up the surface (not necessarily to remove the finish). Then, we've found using a shellac-based, stain-blocking primer and doing two coats on the cabinets works best. This is a very important step - and the type of primer you use matters - because laminate pieces don’t generally have the best adhesion when it comes to paint. Adding the right primer will help your paint stay on the cabinets and give a lasting finish.

You can hand-roll the primer or use your Wagner sprayer for it - but remember, if you use a shellac or oil-based primer in your paint sprayer, you’ll need to clean with mineral spirits afterwards, not just water and soap.

If you want the finished product to look like a professional, factory-finish, using a paint sprayer is a must. I used my Wagner FLEXiO 3000 with the detail finish nozzle to paint my cabinets, and the result is absolutely stunning.

Even with a self-leveling paint, using a roller or brush can sometimes lead to drips, roller marks, or other slight imperfections in the finish. But using your paint sprayer is a great way to ensure an absolutely beautiful finish - don’t forget to lightly sand with 320 or 400-grit sandpaper between each coat for an even more perfect finish!

Finally, when you’re choosing paint for your cabinet project, you’ll want to pick a cabinet + trim enamel that’s specifically formulated to be self-leveling and be durable enough for cabinetry. If you use the same latex paint you use on your walls, the results may be a bit more lackluster. Cabinet and trim paint is created to be self-leveling, which means fewer noticeable paint lines, and it also is created to be a bit more durable and stand up to the test of time.

Painting your laminate or non-wood cabinetry shouldn’t feel intimidating - it’s never a small project to take on painting cabinets, but the transformation is absolutely beautiful, and it’s worth the effort!

This sponsored post was created by Love and Renovations. Head to the blog for the full post and details.